Chavez: thanks to Russian arms Venezuela has got combat power

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez announced the arrival of the batch of Russian weapons - missiles, T-72 tanks and air defense systems - to the country, ITAR-TASS reported.

"With Russian Arms Venezuela has gained its combat power, which she had not obtained in the past 150 years. However, we do not need this weapon to attack someone", the President stressed.

"We are peaceful country, we do not want war, we would like the war to end. The militarists are those who slander us and threaten us", he said at the ceremony of inauguration of the new Defense Minister Henry Rangel Silva.

In turn, Henry Rangel Silva said that thanks to the arms from Russia, China and Spain Venezuela managed to break through the ring of technological dependence on the world's largest arms manufacturers.

"We managed to ensure protection of our sovereignty in the air, at sea and on land thanks to Russian, Chinese and Spanish arms", he said. "We are peaceful country, but we need weapons systems that can prevent any hostile acts", the Defense Minister President echoed the president.